Advanced materials and Reactors for ENergy storage tHrough Ammonia

Project Information

ARENHA

Grant agreement ID: 862482

DOI

10.3030/862482

Project closed

EC signature date 12 March 2020

Start date 1 April 2020

End date 31 March 2025

Funded under

• INDUSTRIAL LEADERSHIP - Leadership in enabling and industrial technologies - Advanced materials

Total cost

€ 5 684 325,00

EU contribution

€ 5 684 325,00

Coordinated by

FUNDACION TECNALIA RESEARCH & INNOVATION
Spain

Periodic Reporting for period 3 - ARENHA (Advanced materials and Reactors for ENergy storage tHrough Ammonia)

Reporting period: 2023-04-01 to 2025-03-31

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

ARENHA has demonstrated the feasibility of ammonia as a dispatchable form of large-scale energy storage, enabling the integration of renewable electricity in Europe and creating global green energy corridors for Europe energy import diversification.

The project aims at using ammonia as a green hydrogen carrier developing advanced technologies and materials covering the whole power-to-ammonia-to-usage value chain. The project has developed novel material and/or systems for green hydrogen, nitrogen and ammonia production using renewable energy, ammonia synthesis in an advance synthesis loop integrating sorbents for ammonia separation with chemisorption, ammonia solid storage, ammonia decomposition in a membrane reactor for pure hydrogen production for power generation and Fuel Cell Electrical Vehicles. In addition, direct use of ammonia has been also addressed for power production in a SOFC and for mobility in an internal combustion engine.

Four prototypes have been developed for proving its performances at TRL5:
- Two 5 kWe SOEC stack modules for hydrogen generation.
- An advance ammonia synthesis loop.
- An ammonia decomposition system based on a membrane reactor for hydrogen generation.

Both the ammonia decomposition prototype and one of the SOEC stack modules have been already tested. The new ammonia synthesis unit and the second SOEC stack module will be tested in the coming months. In parallel LCA, sociological survey, techno economic analysis deeply connected with multiscale modelling has been carried out as well as specific roadmaps for Go-To-Market strategy have been defined to bring the four technologies to the market.

In addition to this, the business model of ARENHA has targeted energy storage solutions for power, energy services, and oil & gas companies. The model builds on the exploitable results from the ARENHA prototypes. This business model is divided into two sub-models: Power-to-Ammonia and Ammonia-to-Power.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

WP1 Business case definition
Tthe foundation for the effective development and exploitation of the project results into the market has been set out. The different exploitable results have been identified and assessed. Business models and commercialization and market strategies for the three main technologies have been developed and two patents requested (one already granted).

WP2 System requirements, design and modelling
The models for the SOEC electrolysis, ammonia synthesis, ammonia solid storage and ammonia decomposition (and adsorption of ammonia traces on solid sorbents) systems have been delivered. A complete model in steady and dynamic mode has been produced for the modelling of the green ammonia production chain. Scenarios for deploying ARENHA technology have been developed, while economic and employment impacts of the concept on the market have been evaluated.

WP3 Key component development
Modified electrolyte supported cells (IKTS) and modified cathode supported cells (ELCOGEN) for SOEC electrolyser developed.
STFC has developed low temperature catalysts for NH3 synthesis and ammonia decomposition reaction.
DTU has synthesised adsorbent materials and bed for the ammonia synthesis loop and materials for NH3 storage and electrochemical cell materials for N2 generation and NH3 electrosynthesis.
TECNALIA has developed membranes for H2 separation in the NH3 decomposition membrane reactor. It has also succeeded in the recycling of the Pd-based membranes
TUE has completed the lab scale testing of the NH3 decomposition membrane reactor
FhG-IKTS has studied the direct use of ammonia on a SOFC system for power generation.
PSA-ID and UORL have completed the testing of ammonia combustion engine.

WP4 Key Component Scale-up
Four prototypes have been built:
- Two 5 kWe SOEC stack modules for hydrogen generation.
- An advance ammonia synthesis loop by PV.
- An ammonia decomposition system based on a membrane reactor for hydrogen generation by H2SITE.

WP5 Plant integration and validation
Assessment of the legal safety regulations has been carried out.Both the ammonia decomposition prototype and one of the SOEC prototypes have been already tested. The new ammonia synthesis unit and second SOEC prototype will be tested in the coming months.

WP6 Environmental LCA, economic and safety assessment
The Sociological Survey has been carried out to analyse the social acceptance and environmental issues of Ammonia use. Both final LCA and final LCC have been completed by ENGIE. In addition, the final LCS and the final footprint have been completed by CNH2.

WP7 Dissemination and communication
Overall, 4 public presentations and 9 newsletters have been delivered, 13 articles published in peer reviewed journals. The consortium has participated in more than 42 conferences and has organised three public workshops. In addition, one PhD thesis presented, and three videos and 17 public media articles have been released. An active social media campaign using has been implemented.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

The ARENHA systems offer a solution to produce, store and use green hydrogen using ammonia as energy carrier. Main exploitable results are foreseen:
1. Advanced SOEC electrolyser for renewable hydrogen generation.
2. Advanced ammonia synthesis loop.
3. Novel ammonia decomposition unit based on a membrane reactor.
4. Advanced ammonia energy storage system capable of storage of massive amount of renewable electricity and long-distance transmission for industrial (feedstock or power) or mobility application.

ARENHA delivers strong environmental, social, and economic benefits by advancing sustainable technologies that support the energy transition and the development of the hydrogen economy.

- SOEC has the potential to become competitive with low-temperature electrolysis technologies, especially in scenarios characterized by high electricity costs and waste heat availability for steam integration to the electrolyser.
- ARENHA integrated Power-to-Ammonia solution based on SOE could become competitive with low-temperature electrolysis-based solutions and traditional ammonia production pathway (this latter in case of low electricity costs and high system utilisation).
- The recovery of H2 from green NH3 (Ammonia-to-Power) using membrane reactors can be achieved at lower costs compared to the benchmark technology. The membrane reactor technology holds significant potential in advancing the decarbonization of the current energy system.
- Preliminary estimates project revenues of approximately €192 million by 2035 for industrial partners involved, with the potential to support around 5,376 jobs through both direct and indirect employment. These numbers are approximately €1,166 million and 32,468 jobs by 2045. ARENHA’s technologies foster high-efficiency, low-emission solutions that reduce reliance on fossil fuels and contribute to global decarbonization. These systems also improve air quality and public health by enabling clean fuel applications. By offering a flexible, storable, and transportable energy vector, ammonia helps integrate higher shares of renewables into the energy mix and avoids the consumption of over 20 million barrels of oil per day. The development and demonstration of ARENHA’s solutions thus play a key role in enhancing energy security, reducing CO2 emissions by up to 10 ton annually, and improving quality of life across sectors while supporting a just and inclusive clean energy transition.

Power-to-ammonia-to-usage value chain activities in ARENHA

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